Democratic Northwest. [volume] (Napoleon, Ohio) 1869-1894, 1887-06-16
THE NORTHWEST
WASHINGTON LETTER.
FFrom our regular correspondent,l
WASHINGTON, June 5th, 1887.


Laborers are at work in one of the
Court yards of the Treasury building
excavating for the new vault, for which
Congress appropriated $27, $40. This
will be the largest single money vault
known. 1t is to be large egough to
hold one hundred million silver dollars,
and its full capacity will doubtless be
tested by the constant accumulation
from an annual production of not less
than twenty four millions of dollars.
The structure is to be entirely uuder-
kround; nothing is to appear on the
surface to indicate the despositOry of so
much wealth. The vault will be lined
with an iron case, and will be divided
into sixteen compartments separated
by iron lattice partitions. There are to
be no dark corners in this building; the
open lattice work is adapted so that the
eye can range through all the conlpart-
ments at one glance. The entrance will
be through the sub-basement of the
Treasury building, which is at all times
thoroughly guarded, and dozen diff
ferent men will be required to open the
vault, several series of unlocking being
necessary, and one person will only
have the secret of one combination
lock. All the known checks and
securities will be applied, and by means
Ofclockwork and electricity there will
he some of the locks which will open at
certain hours of the day only to the
Treasurer of the United States.
The silver dollars in their new habita-
ton will be piled up in canvas bags
holding 81 900 each, one on top of the
other, as is now done in the existing
vaults.
The recent deaths, so close together,
of two prominent journalists, reminds
one of the deep swathe that has so late
Iy been cut into the profession of
Journalism. 1t Isl but brief period
since Adams Of the Washington Star,
and Billy Copeland of the New York
Journal of Commerce, were taken al
most with pencil in hand, SO suddenly
the summons came; and all these
mentioned were not only connected by
the bonds of fellowship incident to
common brotherhood, but were more
intimately associated by ties of closest
friendship. .a
A prominent politician and member
of Congress now in the city, says that
for nine months in the year Washing
ton is the prettiest and pleasantest place
in the country, and only needs better
hotel Accommodations and large hall
suitable for Conventions, to make it the
very place for the next and succeeding
National Conventions.
AS the physical beauties of Washing
ton are already beginning to be appre-
,ciated by the country, q glance at the
efforts being made in the direction of
moral cleanliness and beauty in the
Nations Capital would not be amiss.
The Women's Christian Temperance
Union has become a power in the land,
and by means of their steady adherence
to well-devised plans Of action, and of q
persistence strikingly illustrative of
their courage in attempts to ameliorate
the condition of their fellow beings; the
women of this city have at last sue
ceeded in entirely closing the bar-rooms
here on Sunday, not only in name but
in fact. They are also now engaged in
an endeavor to suppress the exhibition
of questionable pictures used in adver-
tising, which while they attract the
eye and thus serve their purpose, also
exert more baleful influence in lead
ing the imagination of our youth into
evil channels. u..''
A Probation Agency, for the benefit
of first offenders, has been recently
established, whereby unfortunate
youth who have been brought before
the Police Court may be afforded all
opportunity of themselves thus with
holding from them the stigma of con-
Uietion of crime, and sentence to as
ssociation with old criminals, and en-
-deavoring to procure honest employ
ment for those in need.
A Women's Refuge is in successful
operation, also, where any may find a
welcoming smiling and helpful hand.
then there is so much of good in
humanity, and that we live in an age
of charitableness for the sinner as we'll
as of reprobation for the sin.